The Women's Caucus for Art is a national organization whose mission is to create community through art, education, and social activism, while recognizing the contribution of women in the arts. The Philadelphia Chapter provides a support network for women artists in Philadelphia and surrounding communities.
We meet at member studios to network, learn, discuss art and plan shows. All are welcome!
See sidebar for details. Contact us at wcaphiladelphia@gmail.com.

Smita Gupta is simultaneously a Senior Economist at the Institute for Human Development, New Delhi since 2000 and a Gender Analyst at the Indian School of Women’s Studies and Development, New Delhi since 2006. Her main areas of research are political economy, employment, public finance, decentralization, agriculture, natural resource economics, gender studies and tribal issues. She worked on a comparative study of seven states on Empowering Local Governments and has completed a Study on Gender Issues in the People’s Plan Campaign in Kerala. She undertook two studies for the Planning Commission on Water Policy in Chhattisgarh and the Manipur State Development Report. She has a number of articles on the nature of Federalism and Fiscal Policy, the Agrarian Crisis, The Tribal Question, etc. She has worked on pro-people policy and legislations with mass organizations and Parliamentarians. She is a part of the Left movement and is currently engaged in a large survey on the resurgence of the putting out system and on microfinance.

Marni Sommer, DrPH, MSN, RN, has been working in global health and development on issues ranging from improving access to essential medicines to humanitarian relief in conflict settings. Dr. Sommer's particular areas of expertise include conducting participatory research with adolescents, understanding and promoting healthy transitions to adulthood, the intersection of public health and education, gender and sexual health, and the implementation and evaluation of multi-level interventions. Her doctoral research explored girls' experiences of menstruation, puberty and schooling in Tanzania, and the ways in which the onset of puberty might be disrupting girls' academic performance and healthy transition to adulthood. Dr. Sommer's current research focuses on the intersections of gender, health and education for girls transitioning to adulthood in sub-Saharan Africa.

Andrew Lamas's scholarship focuses on the theoretical and practical dimensions, as well as the philosophical and religious bases, of social justice and economic democracy in the context of urbanization. He was a founding member of the Center for Community Self-Help, which provides financing for for small businesses, nonprofits and homebuyers in North Carolina, especially to low-wealth minorities and women; and the Reinvestment Fund, which provides financing for affordable housing and community development in the Greater Philadelphia area. He is also currently involved in the Bread & Roses Community Fund, and several other organizations. Andrew Lamas teaches at the University of Pennsylvania, in the Urban Studies Program. He also lectures in other schools and programs at Penn, including the Wharton School and the School of Social Policy & Practice, where he teaches courses for students pursuing degrees and careers in economic development, community development finance, NGO/non-profit leadership, and related fields. He participates in the Global Gender Group sponsored by the Women’s Studies Program, and he is an Affiliated Faculty of Women's Studies and the Alice Paul Center as well as a Faculty Affiliate of the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Center. Annually, since 2003, he has taught a term-long course for high school students through the volunteer faculty program at Masterman High School. For more than twenty years, he has been the coordinator of a cooperative, feminist, softball league for girls and young women (grades K-12) in the Philadelphia neighborhood of Mount Airy.

Bonnie MacAllister is a multimedia performance artist. She has performed at the New York Foundation of Arts and the Cat Cat Club in Paris, and her plays have been staged at the Shubin Theatre, Adrienne Theatre, and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Her artwork has been exhibited internationally including in Galeria 6 in Mexico, the Utopia Library in Italy, and the Delaware Art Museum. She curates the multimedia label Certain Circuits Media (www.certaincircuits.org) which is currently accepting submissions. Her twitter: @BonnieMacArt

LINK: National Women's Caucus for Art

National Women's Caucus for Art

CALLS FOR ART: WCA National

CALLS FOR ART: CAA

CHAPTER ACTIVITY: CONNECTIONS

OPENING RECEPTION: HFU on Sept. 9th

CHAPTER ACTIVITY: The Ragdoll Project

The Ragdoll Project is now accepting paper dolls for an installation project. Our dolls were recently in CA (National Steinbeck Center in Salinas) and the Inquirer Building (Philadelphia's MCGOPA Gallery) on the Ragdoll Tour for Human Trafficking Awareness. We were also featured as part of the Philly DoGooder Awards for the film we previewed at the 2012 National Conference in Los Angeles. Other WCA chapters are hosting the dolls and are creating their own human trafficking awareness projects. (ongoing)

CHAPTER ACTIVITY: VIOLENCE Exhibition

Sponsored by the Womenʼs Caucus for Art, Philadelphia Chapter in cooperation with the Montgomery County Guild of Professional Artists. This timely exhibition by more than two-dozen women artists from the PAP, DC and NYC WCA Chapters and artists from MCGOPA, addressed some of the complex and difficult questions surrounding the topic of violence. (2013).

CHAPTER ACTIVITY: TechKnowledge Exhibition

Holy Family University invited us to hold a month long exhibition. Members and HFU Faculty spoke on a panel about Women and Technology. (2012)

CHAPTER ACTIVITY: Gender Games Exhibition

Inspired by Penn’s “Year of Games”, International Women’s Day 2012 at International House Philly highlighted the interdisciplinary landscape of women’s health and the challenges to achieving justice. The concurrent panel included health practitioners, policy advocates, and educators working toward justice in women’s health. Dr Felicity Paxton, Penn Women’s Center Director and Lecturer in the Annenberg School of communication, moderated the panel, interweaving the theme of games in a discussion with attendees. The art and performances featured artists who express the need for justice in women’s health. Co-presented by African Studies Center, South Asia Center, Center for South Asian Studies, Middle East Center, Penn Women’s Center, Penn Consortium of Undergraduate Women and Excelano at the University of Pennsylvania, and United Nations Association, Women’s Caucus for Art, Women’s Campaign International, The Anna Crusis Women’s Choir, Usiloquy, Tune Up, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom. (2012)